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In Berkeley, California, the Golden Bears kicked off their season with a solid performance, defeating Cal State Bakersfield 86-73. Andrej Stojakovic led the way for California, scoring 16 points, while Jovan Blacksher Jr. contributed 15 points during the matchup. The team also saw good contributions from BJ Omot with 13 points, DJ Campbell netting 12, and Mady Sissoko who added 10 points to the scoreboard.

Cal State Bakersfield’s Jemel Jones put in a strong performance as well, leading his team with 22 points. Corey Stephenson added 17 points, and Marvin McGhee III chipped in with 13 points. Shakir McGhee III rounded out the performance with a notable 10 rebounds alongside nine points of his own.

As the game progressed, Jones hit a jumper that sparked a 9-3 run, narrowing Bakerfield’s deficit to 78-71 with just under a minute remaining. However, Stojakovic, who previously played for Stanford and was a highly-recruited five-star talent and McDonald’s All-American in 2023, along with Blacksher and Campbell, sealed the win for Cal by each sinking two free throws to close out the game.

The game featured an early dunk from Minnesota transfer Joshua Ola-Joseph, which brought the score to 9-8 with 14:22 left in the first half, allowing California to maintain their momentum throughout. Fidelis Okereke had a dunk that shaved Bakersfield’s deficit to 32-26 with just over three minutes left in the first half. Blacksher quickly responded, scoring a three-pointer followed by a layup, which extended California’s lead to 11 points shortly after. Both he and Omot then hit consecutive three-pointers closing the first half, setting the score at 46-28 in favor of Cal.

The Golden Bears showcased a revamped lineup this season, integrating 10 new scholarship players, including their entire starting five from the transfer portal, marking a fresh chapter for the team going forward.
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